Topic: SCCX Communications POLL - Vote Here!!

[chrishaynesusa]

I carry a CB(mounted and handheld), it seems to work for line of sight.
I carry 4 FRS handhelds and they work well where CB's have static and interference.
I carry a SatPhone for way out in the middle of nowhere.
I carry a SPOT for the same circumstances.
I will have a Ham for Gone( passive monitoring)since no license yet.

redundant backups is the game plan.
my vote for a single unit would have been FRS due to its clarity and ease of use.

[RANDALF1]

Trail comm CB for everyone. Nice to have a couple of HAMS front and rear

[Olaf]

I know this poll is closed and CB is easier being that you don't need a license. 
However, I can't stress the need to reliable communications.  Someone in this thread mentioned that there should be a couple of HAM radios within the group on an outing and that's a great compromise. 
If there's ever an emergency, you'll wish you had HAM radios!  For example, you can hit a repeater in the area that you're in and relay emergency traffic or do phone patch with your HAM radio through the repeater to call for emergency services(911, forest dispatch to report a fire etc.)
I have a wired in CB radio, mobile HAM radio, and handheld HAM radio my vehicie at all times.  I also carry a handheld CB in case someone shows up without any communication device.  My HAM radio is also programmed to communicate on FRS frequencies if need be.
In my opinion, there's no viable substitute for HAM, especially if I'm the trail guide.

[Ghost65]

I know this poll is closed and CB is easier being that you don't need a license.  
However, I can't stress the need to reliable communications.  Someone in this thread mentioned that there should be a couple of HAM radios within the group on an outing and that's a great compromise.  
If there's ever an emergency, you'll wish you had HAM radios!  For example, you can hit a repeater in the area that you're in and relay emergency traffic or do phone patch with your HAM radio through the repeater to call for emergency services(911, forest dispatch to report a fire etc.)
I have a wired in CB radio, mobile HAM radio, and handheld HAM radio my vehicie at all times.  I also carry a handheld CB in case someone shows up without any communication device.  My HAM radio is also programmed to communicate on FRS frequencies if need be.
In my opinion, there's no viable substitute for HAM, especially if I'm the trail guide.

Olaf...I couldn't agree more.  

The challenge we face is that getting a group of tuned and hard wired CB's to show up with this group is a major miracle (but it seems to be getting better).  

I have heard all the excuses in the book about why we should adopt FRS because of it's entry level convenience, and that CB installs are expensive and "complicated," not to mention that HAMs are only for "the cool kids."

The truth is, HAM radio is the easiest install and comms of the bunch.  

Who can't tackle 70% passing at 35 questions?  

AND...entry level radios and antennas can now be had for just under $200.  That might seem like a lot of dough...but how much did you spend on your last suspension mod/stereo upgrade/set of tires???...and those mods can't help save a life in an emergency.

I hope more and more people see the relevance/convenience and sheer superiority of HAMs in their vehicles for trips to the outback.

The list of licensed HAMs in SCCX has tripled in the last two years...a very good trend which I hope continues.  All elitist joking aside, I will continue to promote the positive attributes of amateur radio to all SCCX'ers.

In my mind, being prepared with the best for the worst should be the philosophy.

[RBduffer]

I have 3 Ham radios that cover 15 bands and 2 levels of licenses.  I agree with the last two posts that nothing beets Hams for comms.  But for just having fun on the trail, CBs do pretty good.  FRS is OK if everybody in the group has one.  None of these are manditory.  It is completely up to the trail leader to decide what his group should or must have.  The last few runs I was on, we had at least 90% CBs and 30-50% Hams and growing.  As for the 'Cool Kids' comment, Hams are the coolest nerds you will ever meet.  Thanks for all the great input. 

[npgtech]

SO... In MY OWN OPINION, HAMs rock on the trail, CBs are alright, and FRS.....  I've got a PA in my X now, I can yell at people that way!   

[Ghost65]

I have 3 Ham radios that cover 15 bands and 2 levels of licenses.  I agree with the last two posts that nothing beets Hams for comms.  But for just having fun on the trail, CBs do pretty good.  FRS is OK if everybody in the group has one.  None of these are manditory.  It is completely up to the trail leader to decide what his group should or must have.  The last few runs I was on, we had at least 90% CBs and 30-50% Hams and growing.  As for the 'Cool Kids' comment, Hams are the coolest nerds you will ever meet.  Thanks for all the great input. 

Disclaimer:  my comments were in no way meant to slight anyone's efforts to support all forms of communication...SCCX is not my way or the highway in any shape or form.

Trail Leaders make the call when setting up the runs.

[ultrapc40]

I can tell you when we had 20+ trucks going across Death Valley at all level and speed it helped with the HAM if someone is broke, you don't need the entire group to stay, two to three would stay, one with a HAM to relay and the larger group would wait at the next check point.

There are plus and minus for each radio. I can carry all 3, but will need an operator to monitor them as I will be driving.

For most trail CB will do, but FRS should be required because if you don't have one I will have to nerf you to let you know to keep moving hehehe

[Olaf]

This is a very good example of why good comms are important...  This occurred this last weekend.
Please look at these pictures on page 2 and a read the description on page 3 of this post.  You'll notice he mentions through out summary that there was either a lack of good communication and/or none at all.  He also mentions that the, "...Amount of time that passed was not okay..."
Driver was ejected somewhere between roll number 3-10 but walked away.  Passenger remained in vehicle and had to be airlifted with apparently serious injuries.  I'm told he will recover.  They had to drive to an area where they could get a cell signal in order to call for emergency services!
http://www.sclr.org/roverboard/11-trip-reports/8352-freeway-ridge-pre-run.html?start=6

 

[Ghost65]

Wow Olaf...quite a true story.

Safety is the number one reason for good trail comms.

For those of you on the 2wd friendly post mod day run last weekend...even though we were on a paved shelf road a lot of the time, there were big sections of the trail with no cell service.

One distracted moment on the trail could lead to a similar emergency/recovery effort.

Thanks for sharing Olaf, sounds like the passenger is recovering from his injuries.


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[Toro]

If there's one more politically correct comment..... I'm gonna puke.

     I think FRS and CB blow! But FRS blows more than CB. So, CB it is. I got into HAM 100% for emergency situations and solid simplex comm's.
    All the crappy CB's I've seen are crappy because they are not plug and play. They have to be tuned.

[SteeevO]

CB's are fun for the trail... but in most cases you end up not having contact with everyone in the run and don't do well at all in emergencies.
Ham radios take the cake by far.

Was anyone from here on the 24 hour run in 2008?


We had another run that made it back to camp on time and after the sun went down everyone started to worry...
My run was at the top of john bull with some trucks that were having trouble.
I radioed in to camp in johnson valley, said were ok but we're going to take a while.. Thats a radiowave trek that the CB would have never made.

so then the nearly assembled search party went back to the real party around the camp fire.

[SoCalXTerry]

If there's one more politically correct comment..... I'm gonna puke.

     I think FRS and CB blow! But FRS blows more than CB. So, CB it is. I got into HAM 100% for emergency situations and solid simplex comm's.
    All the crappy CB's I've seen are crappy because they are not plug and play. They have to be tuned.

So THERE!!!!!     No political correctness anywhere D...   

[Ghost65]

Was anyone from here on the 24 hour run in 2008?

I have heard of this run...Creek/John Loughrey Oz/Oz Trad, and wasn't Aaron and Natalie on that one?

A little reminiscent of the 14 Hour Tour of Golden Spike at goneMOAB this year...another episode where comms would have been non-existent without hams.

[Howard Shannon]

I realize I'm a little late in the game for this but what are your thoughts about ssb, side band on cb?